New Mac Pro compatibility with Blackmagic Intensity?

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New Mac Pro compatibility with Blackmagic Intensity?

Hello!

The video production studio I work for is thinking about making the upgrade to the "new" Mac Pro (the trash can) because of the 4K capability. My old 2010 model is absolutely not cutting it when it comes to processing the footage.

However, I need my Blackmagic Intensity Pro card in order to display through Premiere Pro onto an external 63" Samsung Plasma TV (I have a dual Apple Cinema HD display setup with the TV mounted above my desk) for when clients come for edit sessions.

It doesn't seem to me like there's a way to incorporate this hardware with the new Mac Pro, which is off-putting. Is there a way? All my google research doesn't give me results for the New Mac Pro.

If it doesn't work, is there a workaround? Or a different method of connecting my TV?

Thanks!

Hannah

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 2, 2014 8:37 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

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Dec 2, 2014 8:43 AM in response to Hstudio

Thunderbolt expansion? One of the costs and benefits are external TB and TB2 and ability to use PCIe or something like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=842013&is=REG&A=details&Q =

No idea if this is even near what you need though.

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Answer 2

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 8:51 AM in response to The hatter

This is exactly what I need!

Thanks!

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Dec 2, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Hstudio

I am not aware of any drivers that allow you to connect a display card via Thunderbolt expansion chassis and connect a display to the card and have it display.

The nMP support multiple monitors. See:

Mac Pro (Late 2013): Using multiple displays - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Phil0124

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217,088 points

Dec 2, 2014 9:09 AM in response to Hstudio

The Mac Pro already features lots thunderbolt ports for displays and an HDMI port for your TV. You should not need anything else.

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Answer 5

Chris CA

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Dec 2, 2014 9:18 AM in response to Hstudio

Hstudio wrote:

However, I need my Blackmagic Intensity Pro card in order to display through Premiere Pro onto an external 63" Samsung Plasma TV

Why do you think you need the Blackmagic Intensity Pro card?

You can plug the TV directly into the Mac Pro.

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Answer 6

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:20 AM in response to Phil0124

That's true, but I use the TV for playback within Premiere, and as far as I know don't I need a video capture card to do that? That's what google is telling me.

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Answer 7

Chris CA

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Dec 2, 2014 9:24 AM in response to Hstudio

Hstudio wrote:

That's true, but I use the TV for playback within Premiere, and as far as I know don't I need a video capture card to do that? That's what google is telling me.

Video playback is not video capture.

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Answer 8

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:25 AM in response to Chris CA

I believe the only way I can support playback through Premiere is with a video capture card like Blackmagic or AJA. I don't use the TV as an additional desktop display. When I playback my timeline or source monitor in Premiere, the image also gets played back over the TV, for client viewing.

Therefore, if I just plug in the HDMI, there's no way for Premiere to recognize it as a playback method, I assume.

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Answer 9

Phil0124

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Dec 2, 2014 9:29 AM in response to Hstudio

No. Video Playback as Chris points out is not capture. You need a capture card to (as the name implies) capture video from an outside source not to send video to one.

The HDMI port will connect directly to your TV via an HDMI cable and output video through it. It would be kind of silly to have a port you can't use now wouldn't it?

You can point video output to the TV on the HDMI port. Premiere does not need to detect anything, The Mac does it.

You can use the Tv as an additional monitor and output the video to it by simply placing premiere on the desktop that is on the TV.

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Answer 10

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:29 AM in response to Chris CA

Chris CA wrote:

Hstudio wrote:

That's true, but I use the TV for playback within Premiere, and as far as I know don't I need a video capture card to do that? That's what google is telling me.

Video playback is not video capture.

I know that, video "capture" cards like Blackmagic Intensity in addition to capturing footage from camera to computer, they also allow for external monitoring. Like this: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/intensity

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Answer 11

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:36 AM in response to Phil0124

I'm still not sure that playback will work the way I need it to with just the HDMI plugged in. In order to use the TV as a preview monitor, Premiere needs a device to playback through, like this: http://planetsupport.blogspot.com/2013/04/setting-up-external-preview-monitor-in .html

I don't think I can get Premiere to "see" the TV monitor without a video playback device.

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Answer 12

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 2, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Hstudio

So you want to use the card to do also video capture?

Because you still have not stated this. Simply thay you want to use it to playback onto the TV.

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Answer 13

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Hstudio

I just checked the back of my tower, and it looks like my Blackmagic Intensity card is the only HDMI port I have on this computer. So then the only reason I need the card is to have that HDMI port? So then I would be fine with just the Mac Pro? And it won't just assume that I want to use the TV as an additional display?

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Answer 14

Chris CA

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Dec 2, 2014 9:49 AM in response to Hstudio

Hstudio wrote:

I'm still not sure that playback will work the way I need it to with just the HDMI plugged in. In order to use the TV as a preview monitor, Premiere needs a device to playback through, like this: http://planetsupport.blogspot.com/2013/04/setting-up-external-preview-monitor-in .html

I don't think I can get Premiere to "see" the TV monitor without a video playback device.

That link is specific to getting it to playback thru a Blackmagic/Matrox/Aja video card that you have connected.

It is NOT talking about using any playback device connected directly to the computer.

Also, see this -> http://www.larryjordan.biz/adobe-premiere-pro-cc-use-2-monitors/

and this -> http://tv.adobe.com/watch/davtechtable/working-with-premierepro-cc-the-new-mac-p ro/

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Answer 15

Hstudio Author

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Dec 2, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Chris CA

Chris CA wrote:

Hstudio wrote:

I'm still not sure that playback will work the way I need it to with just the HDMI plugged in. In order to use the TV as a preview monitor, Premiere needs a device to playback through, like this: http://planetsupport.blogspot.com/2013/04/setting-up-external-preview-monitor-in .html

I don't think I can get Premiere to "see" the TV monitor without a video playback device.

That link is specific to getting it to playback thru a Blackmagic/Matrox/Aja video card that you have connected.

It is NOT talking about using any playback device connected directly to the computer.

That's true. I'm just concerned that if plug my TV directly into the Mac Pro's HDMI port, it'll just be recognized as another desktop display.

I can't test this out on my computer right now, because the only HDMI port I have is through my Blackmagic card...

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